arpeggio

American  

[ahr-pej-ee-oh, -pej-oh] / ɑrˈpɛdʒ iˌoʊ, -ˈpɛdʒ oʊ /

noun

Music.

plural

arpeggios

1. the sounding of the notes of a chord in rapid succession instead of simultaneously.

2. a chord thus sounded.

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arpeggio British  

/ ɑːˈpɛdʒɪəʊ /

noun

1. a chord whose notes are played in rapid succession rather than simultaneously

2. an ascending and descending figuration used in practising the piano, voice, etc

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Other Word Forms

• arpeggiated adjective
• arpeggioed adjective

Etymology

Origin of arpeggio

1735–45; < Italian: literally, a harping, noun derivative of arpeggi ( are ) to play on the harp (< Germanic; compare Old English hearpi ( g ) an to harp)

Explanation

An arpeggio is a series of increasing or decreasing notes played one after another, rather than all together as a chord. When musicians are first learning an instrument, they often practice arpeggios. String instruments commonly play arpeggios, especially violins and violas. You can also play an arpeggio on a banjo, bass guitar, or a keyboard instrument like a piano. It's also possible to sing an arpeggio, emphasizing each individual note. The word is Italian, from arpeggiare, "to play upon the harp," and ultimately from arpa, or "harp."

Example Sentences

Legend: I have this song called “Safe,” and there’s this one moment when I do this run and Sufjan has this arpeggio going the opposite direction.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 16, 2024

Co-orchestrator Todd Sickafoose responded to that flourish with one of his own, embellishing Mitchell’s score with a propulsive violin arpeggio in tune with the scene’s growing grandeur.

From Washington Post • Oct. 12, 2021

DaBaby and Ricch’s “Rockstar,” Billboard’s official 2020 Song of Summer, was the most bewitching of the bunch, built out of a moody guitar arpeggio gentle enough for a country record.

From Slate • May 1, 2021

On the line, “I love you and you love me and that’s how it will always be and nothing else could ever mean a thing,” Mr. Bennett sings the line using a spiraling, ascending arpeggio.

From The Wall Street Journal • Aug. 27, 2018

They conduct the genome, thereby playing out its music—activating the viola at the fourteenth minute, a crash of cymbals during the arpeggio, a roll of drums at the crescendo.

From "The Gene" by Siddhartha Mukherjee